Automobile awning



Feb. 10, 1953 A. $1 ,HILL. 2,627,913

AUTOMOBILE AWN I NG Filed March 5. 1951 A TTORNE'Y Patented Feb. 10,1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE AWNING Albert E. Hill,Tulsa, Okla.

Application March 5, 1951, Serial No. 218,900

2 Claims.

the leading and trailing edges of the automobile door with a suitablefabric covering over the arms. It will be readily appreciated that thefabric covering is continuously exposed to rain, snow, and the sun, andafter a relatively short period of time becomes faded and discolored,hereby detracting from the appearance of the automobile. Furthermore,the fabric collects dirt very rapidly, and is very dimcult to keep cleanto present a pleasing appearance. Also, the fabric tends to rot whensubjected to rain over a relatively short period of time.

Another popular type of automobile awning is a metal awning that ispermanently secured to the upper edge of the automobile door. This typeof awning, however, is stationary and affords very little protection tothe motorist since it cannot be raised or lowered.

The present invention contemplates a novel retractable automobile awningthat may be constructed out of any suitable durable material, such assteel, aluminum, plastic, or the like. The awning comprises a pluralityof arcuate leaves or slats pivotally secured to the leading and trailingedges of an automobile door. The innermost leaf is secured to the upperedge of the automobile door, and the remaining leaves may be telescopedinto and out of thestationary innermost leaf to raise and lower theawning over the window of the automobile. The awning, being constructedout of a durable material such as metal or plastic,

can be easily cleaned and will present a pleasing appearance.Furthermore, it may be chrome plated or painted the same color as theautomobile on which it is used. It is also apparent that the awning willnot rot or fade, and will have a long service life.

An important object of this invention is to provide a retractableautomobile awning.

Another object of this invention is to provide a retractable automobileawning constructed out of metal or plastic materials.

Another object of this invention is to provide a retractable automobileawning that will not be subjected to rotting or fading.

A further object of this invention is to provide a retractableautomobile awning that will be durable and may be easily cleaned.

Another object of this invention is to provide a retractable automobileawning that will provide the maximum protection to the motorist when inan extended or lowered position, and will provide an eflicient rainguard when in a retracted position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a retractableautomobile awning that may be easily and efficiently installed on anautomobile door in the minimum of time, and with the use of a minimum oftools.

Another object of this invention is to provide a retractable automobileawning having a long service life and which may be economicallymanufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from thefollowing detailed description, read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a novel awning installed on anautomobile door.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the awning installed on anautomobile door, illustrating the awning in a retracted position.

Figure 3 isa view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the-awning in anextended'position.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 44 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a detailed View of the end brackets utilized to secure theawning on an automobile door.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Fig. 1, referencecharacter 2 generally designates a novel awning installed on anautomobile door 4 over the upper portion of the automobile door window6. The awning 2 is secured to the leading and trailing edges 8 and itrespectively of the outer flange I2 of the automobile door 4 by suitablebrackets indicated generally at M.

Each bracket l4 (see Fig. 5) comprises a U- shaped clip 16 adapted toreceive the flange 12 of the automobile door 4. A set screw I8 isprovided in each clip l6 and is adapted to contact the au tomobile doorflange ii to rigidly secure the respective bracket member l4 thereon. AnL- shaped member 20 has one arm 2| thereof pivotally secured to the clip16 by a suitable pivot screw 22 as is well known in the art. A bolt 24having a head 25 on the outer end thereof is secured in the opposite arm26 of the member 20 to support the leaves 21 through 3| of theautomobile awning 2. Each of the leaves 21 through 3| is curved andextends the length of the automobile door 4, and an aperture (not shown)is provided in each end of each of the leaves to receive the respectivebolts 24. A spring 32 is also provided on each bolt 24, and continuouslyexerts pressure on the ends of the leaves 21 to 3| through the medium ofa washer 34 for purposes as will be hereinafter set forth.

The brackets l4 are secured to the door flange |2 in such a positionthat the bolts 24 are in alignment, thereby providing a common pivotalaxis for the awning leaves 2'! through 3|. The innermost leaf 3| ispermanently secured in abutting relationship with the door flange i 2 bya pair of suitable clips 36. The clips 35 may be of any suitableconstruction, and are preferably provided with set screws (not shown) toassure the permanent positioning of the leaf 3| on the door flange it.The width of the leaves 3| through 2'! rogressively decrease, the widthof the leaf 3| being the greatest, and the width of the leaf 2? beingthe smallest. Furthermore, the radius of curvature of the leaves 3|through 21 progressively decrease, the leaf 3| having the greatestradius of curvature and the leaf 21 having the smallest radius ofcurvature. The leaf 2! may therefore be moved into or underneath theleaf 28, and the leaf 28 may be moved into leaf 29, and so on. All ofthe leaves 21 through 30 may also therefore be moved underneath the leaf3| when the awning is in a retracted position, as illustrated in Fig. 2,to present a neat and pleasing appearance.

A suitable handle 38 is provided on the central portion of the lowerleaf 21 and projects outwardly from the leaf 21 for purposes as will behereinafter set forth. The outer edge 42 of the leaf 3| is turneddownwardly and is adapted to engage the inner upturned edge 42 of theleaf 3!! when the leaf 30 is extended, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.The outer edges 44, 45 and d8 of the leaves 30, 29 and 28 respectively,are also turned downwardly to engage the upturned inner edges 50, 52 and54 of the leaves 29, 28 and 21 respectively to prevent the leaves fromparting when moved downwardly over the window 5. It will be understoodthat only a portion of the side edges of the leaves need be distorted,if desired, to preclude a parting of the leaves and provide an effectiveawning.

Operation Assuming the awning 2 is in a retracted position, asillustrated in Fig. 2, the awning 2 may be lowered by moving the handle38 downwardly and outwardly. When the lower leaf 2'! has been moved fromunderneath the leaf 3| the inner upturned edge 54 of the leaf 21contacts the outer downturned edge 48 of the leaf 28 to move the leaf 28simultaneously with the leaf 21. The inner upturned edge 52 of the leaf28 will then contact the outer downturnededge 46 of the leaf 29, and soon, until all of the leaves 21 through 38 are moved to the positionsillustrated in Fig. 4. The outward and downward movement of the leaves2'! through 30 will be halted when the inner upturned edge 42 of theleaf 30 contacts the outer downturned edge 4|] of the stationary leaf3|. It will be understood that the leaves 21 through 30 are pivoted onbolts 24 during their downward and outward movement.

When the awning 2 is in the extended osition, as illustrated in Figs. 1,3 and 4, the motorist will be afforded the maximum protection from thesun, as well as from rain or snow and the like. The awning 2 will thenpreclude the entrance of rain or snow into the automobile even thoughthe window 6 is completely lowered.

When it is desired to raise the awning 2, the handle 38 is grasped bythe motorist and moved upwardly and inwardly. It will be apparent froman examination of Fig. i, that the handle 38 will progressively contactthe leaves 28, 29 and 38 when moved upwardly and inwardly to pivot theleaves 28, 29 and 3a into their retracted position underneath the fixedleaf 3| as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the awning 2 is in a retractedposition, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the awning provides an efiicientrain guard to permit a slight opening of the window 6 during a rainstorm or the like to prevent the windshield of the automobile fromfoggingup, and to increase the comfort of the occupants of theautomobile.

The springs 32 provided on the bolts 23 of the brackets M will retainthe ends of the leaves 21 through 3| in contact with each other and incontact with the bracket arms 25 when the leaves are in their retractedposition, as illustrated in Fig. 2, as well as when the leaves arepartially extended (not shown), or fully extended as illustrated inFigs. 1, 3 and 4. The awning 2 may therefore be fully retracted orextended to any desired degree, according to the desire of the motorist,and will be retained in the desired position by friction induced by thesprings 32.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention provides anovel retractable automobile awning that provides the maximum protectionto the motorist when in an extended or lowered position, and provides anemcient rain guard when in a retracted position. Furthermore, since theawning is constructed out of plastic or metallic material, the awningmay be easily cleaned, and will not be subjected to rotting or fading.Also, the awning will present a pleasing appearance when either in aretracted or extended position, and may be chrome plated or painted tomatch the color of the automobile if desired. It is also apparent thatthe present invention provides a novel retractable automobile awninghaving a long service life and which may be economically manufactured.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts asheretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, itbeing understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of theinvention may be made within the scope of the following claims withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An awning for an automobile door having a window therein, comprisingan arcuate leaf of a length to extend substantially the length of thedoor, clips on said leaf claspingly engaging the upper edge of the doorand securing the leaf in abutting relation to the door over the upperpart of the window, a plurality of smaller arouate leaves disposed underthe first said leaf, each end of each of said leaves having an aperturetherein, a bolt inserted through said apertures at each end of saidleaves to provide pivotal supports for said leaves, and clamp meansengaging the forward and trailing edges of the door supporting saidbolts in aligned relationship.

2. An awning for an automobile door having a window therein, comprisingan arcuate leaf of v5 a length to extend substantially the length of thedoor, clips on said leaf claspingly engaging the upper edge of the doorand securing the leaf in abutting relation to the door over the upperpart of the window, a plurality of smaller arcuate leaves disposed underthe first said leaf, each end of each of said leaves having an aperturetherein, a bolt inserted through said apertures at each end of saidleaves to provide pivotal supports for said leaves, clamp means engagingthe forward and trailing edges of the door supporting said bolts inaligned relationship, a head on each bolt in spaced relation to therespective clamp means, and a helical spring surrounding each boltengaging the adjacent leaf and the head on the associated boltcontinually urging the ends of said leaves into close contact with eachother and against the clamp means.

ALBERT E. HILL.

REFERENCES CETED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

